Fulu Cab Restaurant was one of the most prestigious establishments in the Imperial Capital. Reservations were a must, and those without one had to pay double the service charge. The menu's offerings were nearly exorbitant, with even a simple dish like black pearl caviar costing a minimum of 1.2 million yuan. The restaurant prided itself on using the world's finest and rarest ingredients, such as the highly sought-after sea dragon sashimi, priced at an astronomical 3.8 million yuan.
Having recently returned from studying abroad, Xu Yiru was unfamiliar with the restaurant's reputation. She and Jiang Yuanwei arrived without a reservation and were promptly informed of the policy. Jiang Yuanwei's temper flared.
"Hey! Do you even know who I am? I'm Jiang Yuanwei! Ever heard of the six major families of the Imperial Capital? Do you even respect your customers?"
"I'm sorry, sir," the waiter replied politely. "I'm just a staff member here. I'm not familiar with any family names. However, restaurant policy states that without a reservation, you'll need to pay double the service charge. Shall I proceed with your seating request?"
"Double the service charge? How much is that?" Jiang Yuanwei demanded arrogantly.
"Two hundred thousand yuan per person," the waiter replied with a professional smile.
"Two hundred thousand?! What kind of scam are you running here? I'll call the police!"
"Sir, if you continue to disrupt the establishment, we'll have to involve the authorities ourselves," the waiter replied calmly.
"Forget it. Let's go somewhere else," Xu Yiru suggested. "This place is too expensive."
Her suggestion made Jiang Yuanwei panic. The entire point of this dinner was to flaunt his wealth and win Xu Yiru's favor. Backing out now would ruin everything.
"Too expensive? Four hundred thousand yuan is nothing to me!" Jiang Yuanwei boasted, albeit with a slight tremor in his voice. "Let's go in. You, prepare a private room for us!"
"I'm sorry, sir," the waiter said, "but Fulu Cab doesn't have private rooms. All our seating is open-plan, though our decor ensures an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Please follow me."
Reluctantly, Jiang Yuanwei and Xu Yiru were led to a table by the window. When they opened the menu, both were stunned. The dishes were not only minuscule in portion but outrageously priced—every item was over a million yuan.
"This…"
"Pick whatever you like. Money's no issue for me!" Jiang Yuanwei declared, swallowing his discomfort as he tried to keep up appearances.
He couldn't help but wonder: What kind of place is this? Even someone from one of the six major families feels out of his depth here. Are there really people richer than us dining here?
After awkwardly ordering a few dishes, the pair waited for their meal. To ease the tension, Jiang Yuanwei began chatting.
"Yiru, I have to say, I really like you. You're beautiful and have such a great personality. My mom always says that a man should marry a virtuous woman."
"Haha." Xu Yiru chuckled awkwardly, nodding politely.
"My mom also says that you're someone who brings good fortune. Whoever marries you is destined for great success!"
Xu Yiru couldn't help but think: Is this guy a complete mama's boy? Every other sentence is "my mom says."
"My mom even had a fortune teller match our compatibility. She said our faces and birth charts are a perfect match! So, Yiru, do you think you could…"
"Oh, look! Mr. Shang is here too!" Xu Yiru suddenly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. A few tables away, Shang Yunyian was seated with several assistants standing nearby. She hadn't noticed him earlier because the assistants had blocked her view, but now she could see him clearly.
"What? Mr. Shang?" Jiang Yuanwei frowned, frustrated at being interrupted. "Yiru, I was saying—"
"Mr. Shang! Hello!" Xu Yiru waved at Shang Yunyian.
Shang Yunyian looked up, equally surprised to see her at the restaurant. Smiling faintly, he walked over to their table.
"Mr. Jiang," Shang Yunyian greeted. "What a coincidence to see you here. Are you two… on a date?"
"Well… yes." Jiang Yuanwei forced a smile, irritated by Shang Yunyian's presence. "Yiru and I are discussing the possibility of dating. Why? Are you interested in joining us, Mr. Shang?"
Jiang Yuanwei's tone was laced with sarcasm. He could sense Xu Yiru's subtle shift in demeanor whenever Shang Yunyian was around—her interest in this tall, striking man was obvious.
"I see," Shang Yunyian said, ignoring the hostility.
Feeling the tension, Xu Yiru quickly explained, "My parents seem to think Mr. Jiang and I are a good match, so they suggested we have dinner together. Have you ordered, Mr. Shang?"
"I have," Shang Yunyian replied. "Well then, I'll leave you two to your meal. Enjoy your evening."
With a polite nod, he returned to his table. Although he appeared nonchalant, his gaze often flickered back to Xu Yiru as he spoke with his assistants.
"Sir, Madam, your dishes are ready," the waiter announced as he brought the plates to their table.
As the dishes were set down, Jiang Yuanwei's frustration grew. The portions were laughably small, and the presentation only reminded him of how outrageously overpriced everything was. His temper finally boiled over.
"What kind of food is this? Is this even edible? It's raw! And there's dirt on it!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the entire restaurant.